Community Watch

A Community Watch program offers citizens the ability to work with law enforcement
to prevent, and rid, communities of vandalism and crime. Proven to be one of the
most effective and least costly answers to crime, Community Watches encourage residents
to join together and be aware of activities around them in their daily lives.

Community Watch is a crime prevention program that enlists the active participation
of citizens in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime in their communities.

Why Start a Community Watch Program?

Law enforcement officers cannot be in every neighborhood twenty-four hours a day,
so citizen involvement is necessary to combat crime. You and your neighbors are
the ones who really know what's going on in your community, and by you and your
neighbors working together as well as with local law enforcement, citizens can help
fight crime. Your involvement is key in deterring and fighting crime in your community.

How to Start a Community Watch Program

Contact us about starting a Community Watch Program.
We can assist with information, materials and technical advice.

Schedule a meeting with your neighbors in a church, home, community building, volunteer
fire department or other location.

Invite us to speak at your original meeting to help get your Community Watch program
started.

Contact every resident in your community and invite them to the meeting. Do this
by making door-to-door visits, phone calls, or mailing flyers.

Hold your meeting.

Community Watch Activities

OPEARTION I.D. - This program involves engraving your valuable personal property
with your Driver's License Number. This makes it easier to identify property if
it is stolen.

COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP - Get neighbors involved in a community clean-up day.
You are working to clean up crime, and clean up the community as well. Make the
community safe as well as a beautiful place to live.

VICTIM ASSISTANCE - Should one of your neighbors be victimized, you can know
how to help that person. Contact us for more information.

COMMUNITY WATCH SIGNS - Purchase Community Watch signs. This will help identify
your community as a place where citizens look out for each other.

SAFE HOUSE - This is a house in the community where children can go if they
feel frightened or threatened.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT - Communities participate in National Night Out Against
Crime. Neighbors come together and celebrate their drive to stop crime in their
community.

AWARENESS PROGRAMS - There may be some specific crime problem in your neighborhood
that your Community Watch group wants to target. Educate your members on such topics
as:

Drug Abuse Prevention

Sexual Abuse Prevention

Child Abuse Prevention

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

and many others. Don't limit yourselves!

Remember: - Criminals go to areas where they feel safe and secure. They avoid
neighborhoods where they are likely to get caught and be watched. When they are
not wanted or welcomed, they go someplace else. Start a Community Watch Program
today and help prevent crime in your community. The Community Watch Program works
when people get involved and stay involved.